Shake Your Buddha!

Shake Your Buddha!

I started the New Year riding out of India across the Northeast States, a unique part of India surrounded by Nepal, Tibet, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Burma that many different tribal groups still call home. Crossing into Burma I made my way to the old city of Mandalay where I completed a 10 day Vipassana Meditation course in noble silence. The positive experience left me feeling recharged physically and emotionally, ready to explore more of Southeast Asia. Siliguri, India to Mandalay, Burma 1/1/19-7/2/19 (Warning, the video above contains content that some may find disturbing)

On the dusty roads of Northeast India

I went for my first teeth cleaning in 3.5 years before leaving India. The sounds from the cleaning tool like a rusty screwdriver scraping on glass accompanied by the screams of a little girl sitting one meter away from me contrasted considerably to the dental experience in the United States. But boy are my teeth clean now. Fun fact: while I thought my cavity was due to my excessive consumption of cane sugar here, turns out cane sugar actually has cleaning agents. Even today some Indians use cane sugar as an alternative to brushing their teeth.Outside Mandalay, Burma

Northwest BurmaBurmese Ox Cart

Burmese ox facial hairWhile change currency in a Burmese bank, two men walked in and dumped this pile of cash on the floor out of a white sack taken from a truck parked directly outside the bank entrance. The men then threw stacked piles of cash over the counter.

Food offerings to local Gods during a festival in Manipur India

Endless construction on dusty roads in Manipur India

Manipur, India

Live frogs for sale in a market in Northeast India

Indian soldier on special operations shopping duty

Throughout India I find men bathing around small pools of water at truck stops on the side of the road. I join to wash my clothes and self, or just to cool down in the afternoon heat.

Merry Belated Christmas from India

So there are Baptists in IndiaSo many random gun stores in Nagaland, India, I felt like I was back in 'MericaThis is by far the coolest motorcycle I have ever seen

HOW TO MAKE CHIPATI / ROTI IN INDIA:

India on a protest day

More chickensLive borol (hornet grubs) for sale in a market in Northeast India

Bamboo ox carts in IndiaFrom the way Indians make the most of their bikes, my loaded bike blends right inBollywood feature filmI often saw families fishing in these muddy shallow pools. The children would move their hands through the mud until they found a fish and then throw it five meters up to dry land.

Chickens

Bed nets that I used to see in Northern Africa are common here in India as well